The Heart of Sustainability: Restoring Ecological Balance from the Inside Out

Praise for

The Heart of Sustainability

With The Heart of Sustainability Andres Edwards has made the crucial link between the subjective inward quest for consciousness development and the objective outward movement for environmental sustainability. Although the ability to think holistically is a well-recognized attribute of heightened consciousness, the capacity and motivation for action is not normally associated with such consciousness. Edwards shows us, however, that expanded (I.e., non-dual) consciousness is precisely at the heart of and driving the largest mass movement in human history, the global movement for environmental sustainability.

— Raz Ingrasci, Chairman of Hoffman Institute International

If we are to successfully address the social and environmental challenges that confront us, we’ll need to bring our complete selves, both head and heart, to the task. Andres Edwards provides a clear and concise guide, showing how each of us — as business people, educators, and concerned citizens — can contribute to fundamental change. This is an indispensable road map to creating a better world.

— Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group, and author, Strategies for the Green Economy

This book is for anyone experiencing the tension that our culture creates between the way we actually treat our natural world and each other, and the way we, deep in our hearts, know we should. It’s both inspiring and informative, and beautifully written. Well done!

— Kathleen O’Brien, LEED AP, CSBA, Cascadia Fellow, Executive Director: The EMERGE Leadership Project (ELP)

The Heart of Sustainability eloquently delves into the personal journey associated with a life well lived at this moment in history. Andres shows how love and service are essential elements of transformation: for individuals, communities and our planet.

— Jib Ellison, CEO, Blu Skye

Creating a just and sustainable society will require changing how we live. And, as Andres Edwards passionately argues, that will mean changing how we think, and changing the stories that shape our identities and motives. This is an essential addition to the sustainability literature, tethering environmental policy to our very souls.

— Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute, author, Afterburn and The End of Growth

A compelling compilation of emerging thought, backed by real examples and resources. The Heart of Sustainability focuses on the idea that sustainability can and must go beyond doing less harm, and beyond the idea that the problem is them, out there. Instead, Edwards challenges us to look within for solutions — to cultivate the capacity within each of us to create abundance, balance and goodness in the world.

— Josie Plaut LEED AP BD+C, Associate Director Institute for the Built Environment

Andres Edwards continues his compelling narrative on sustainability in the third book of his trilogy, The Heart of Sustainability, giving insight into how each of us can maximize our positive impact. A tour de force demonstrating how to live a balanced, conscious and compassionate life in the face of an exponential rate of technological advancement. Compelling, thoughtful and inspiring.

—James R. Doty, M.D., Founder and Director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University and author, Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeons Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart

Copyright © 2015 by Andrés Edwards.

All rights reserved.

Cover design by Diane McIntosh.

All images © iStock — Vitruvian Man: ArtyCool; Leaf: a lis

Printed in Canada. First printing September 2015.

New Society Publishers acknowledges the financial support of the Government of

Canada through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) for our publishing activities.

Paperback ISBN: 978-0-86571-762-6

eISBN: 978-1-55092-599-9

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of The Heart of Sustainability

should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below.

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Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:

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New Society Publishers’ mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision. We are committed to doing this not just through education, but through action. The interior pages of our bound books are printed on Forest Stewardship Council®-registered acid-free paper that is 100% post-consumer recycled (100% old growth forest-free), processed chlorine-free, and printed with vegetable-based, low-VOC inks, with covers produced using FSC®-registered stock. New Society also works to reduce its carbon footprint, and purchases carbon offsets based on an annual audit to ensure a carbon neutral footprint. For further information, or to browse our full list of books and purchase securely, visit our website at: www.newsociety.com

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Edwards, Andres R., 1959-, author

Heart of sustainability : restoring ecological balance

from the inside out / Andres R. Edwards.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Issued in print and electronic formats

ISBN 978-0-86571-762-6 (paperback).--ISBN 978-1-55092-599-9 (ebook)

1. Sustainable living. 2. Human ecology. 3. Social change--Environmental aspects. 4. Social evolution. I. Title.

To Tamara

Contents

Acknowledgments

INTRODUCTION:

Looking Within to Seed an Enduring Vision for the Future

CHAPTER 1: A New Story

Anatomy of a Story

Our Role in the Hero’s Journey

Living Between Stories

Themes of the New Story

Visions of the New Story

CHAPTER 2: Changing the Old Story

From Separate to Aligned with Nature

From Scarcity to Abundance

From Fear to Assurance

Reframing the Ecological Crisis

CHAPTER 3: Purpose, Meaning, and Happiness

Quality of Life

Nature and Well-being

Social Ecotones

Gathering in Public Places

Personal and Global Happiness

CHAPTER 4: Reconnecting to Ourselves and to Nature

Ecology

Economy

Equity

Education

The External Es and Internal Cs

Consciousness

Creativity

Compassion

Connection

CHAPTER 5: Leading from the Heart

Leadership Styles

Being of Service

Supporting Positive Qualities Through Conversations

Leading from Within

CHAPTER 6: Activism with Heart

Types of Activists

Mental Models and What Motivates Us

Spiritual Activism

Sacred Activism and Networks of Grace

Giftivism

Activism and Faith Communities

CHAPTER 7: Finding and Connecting the Dots

System Shifts

Places to Intervene in a System

The Lisbon Principles

Holistic Education

Conservation Psychology

Ecological Intelligence and Related Quotients

Empathy and Nature

CHAPTER 8: Envisioning a Compelling Future

The Future We Want

The Sharing Economy

Future Paths

The COURAGE Framework

Looking Within

Resources

Endnotes

Index

About the Author

Acknowledgments

THIS BOOK HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME as my ideas about sustainability have grown during conversations with friends and colleagues and at workshops and conferences.

I would like to thank: Elizabeth Thompson, Sarah Skenazy, J. P. Harpignies, and the team at the Buckminster Fuller Challenge for their insights and our lively discussions about projects that are creating a better world; Kathleen O’Brien, Ann Edminster, David Eisenberg, and the participants from the Emerge workshops for raising key aspects of leadership; Jeff Vander Clute, Duane Elgin, Lynnaea Lumbard, and Rick Ingrasci and members of The Decisive Decade gatherings at Hollyhock; Tom Burns and Joan Diamond from the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere (MAHB) at Stanford University; Peter Sherman, Rick Medrick, James Pitman, and the graduate students in Prescott College’s Environmental Studies program; Josie Plaut, Brian Dunbar, Jennifer Schill, Helene Gotthelf and the team and board members from the Center for Living Environments and Regeneration (CLEAR); and the Cascade Canyon School community and its board of trustees.

I am indebted to the following for their suggestions and their help in gathering updated information about numerous programs: Kayla Cranston, Raz and Liza Ingrasci, Gillian Petrini, Danielle Goldstone, Amy Saltzman, Edwin Rutsch, Jennifer Kobylecky, Theresa McDermit, Dominic Price, Dan O’Neill, Rob Dietz, Doug McKenzie-Mohr, Kendall Haven, and Gary Gardner. Special thanks to Nadine Ulloa, Tom Sebastian, Joey Hodges, Lia Rudnick, Phyllis Mufson, Blanchefleur Macher, Michal Levin, Bob Apte, Spencer Beebe, Mark Samolis, Mark Woodrow, and Bruce Hammond for engaging in discussions over many years on topics of mutual interest, and to the Diamond Heart and yoga community for helping me discover new ways to integrate my mind, body, and heart. I am grateful to Rand Selig for his feedback, which provided important context in the early drafts of the manuscript.

I would like to thank Diane Killou for her enduring effort in editing the manuscript from its early phases and the entire team at New Society Publishers including Ingrid Witvoet, Sue Custance, and E. J. Hurst, with whom I’ve enjoyed working on book projects for the last decade.

I am indebted to Tamara Long for her practical perspectives on applying the concepts in the manuscript to daily life and for bringing curiosity, joy, and love as our journey begins. Finally, my deep appreciation and love to my children Naomi, Easton, and Rylan, who are budding lights of inspiration for what is possible.

Introduction:

Looking Within to Seed an Enduring Vision for the Future

What’s needed now is neither fatalism nor utopianism, but a suite of practical pathways for families and communities that lead to a real and sustainable renewable future …. We need inspiring examples, engaging stories, and opportunities for learning in depth.

— Richard Heinberg

We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Faith is not about finding meaning in the world, there may be no such thing — Faith is the belief in our capacity to create meaningful lives.

— Terry Tempest Williams

THIS BOOK COMPLETES AN EXPLORATION of the three main facets of the sustainability movement. The Sustainability Revolution examined the principles and bedrock values of sustainability, describing the aspiration of the world community to create a life in harmony with the Earth’s living systems. Then Thriving Beyond Sustainability investigated the individuals and organizations implementing these ideas through large and small initiatives in rural villages and urban centers throughout the world. Now The Heart of Sustainability considers the personal aspects of sustainability, with insights into how we can maximize our positive impact on the economic, social, and environmental challenges we face.

Two of the most significant factors shaping our well-being today are the consciousness and the technological revolutions. They affect us individually on a daily basis and call on us to make choices that can either enhance or diminish our well-being. We see the consciousness revolution in the scientific advancements in neuroscience, which have led to a widespread interest in topics ranging from brain research to meditation, mindfulness, positive psychology, yoga, qigong and other martial arts, and awareness exercises. The technological revolution is changing how we check in with ourselves and communicate with our family, friends, colleagues, and the world at large. The expansion of social media though Internet software platforms such as Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and a plethora of other applications, blogs, and email programs has transformed the way we interact. While our ubiquitous devices have made it simple for us to stay in touch and share our experiences, this hyperconnectivity has taken its toll on our connection to nature.

At the confluence of the consciousness and technological streams, we stand as individuals attempting to adapt to an increasingly rapid pace of life and make the best choices for ourselves and our loved ones. Three insights may guide us as we navigate the future: (1) we are part of nature, not separate from it; (2) we will benefit from taking a regenerative approach to the challenges we face; and (3) now is the time for us to step up and take leadership roles on behalf of all beings and the planet.

Bridging the separation from the natural world that many of us feel begins by reconnecting to ourselves and to where we live. Mindfulness often yields clarity in our interdependence with all natural systems. By going within, we sense our connection to the web of life, beginning with our backyard.

A regenerative approach builds on our connection to nature by integrating nature’s abundance, resiliency, and adaptability into our perspective of the world. The glass is not half full but is overflowing with possibilities. The mindset is one of abundance rather than scarcity, possibility rather than limits, and embracing the unknown rather than fearing it. Using a regenerative approach allows us to create conditions where the goal is to thrive rather than merely to minimize our negative impact. So our homes are built to produce more renewable energy than they use; we improve the biodiversity of places previously destroyed by development; and we give back to others many times what we have received.

Taking a leadership role means that we look no farther than ourselves to see what is needed and to act. We are the leaders we have been waiting for. Instead of looking for heroes to solve the problems we face at the local, national, and global levels, we must look at our own gifts and talents and take the leap to gather our friends and neighbors and take action on issues important to us.

The exponential rate of technological advancement will undoubtedly continue. Indeed, many environmental and social solutions have already emerged. Our challenge lies in reaching our own personal potential to live a life in which we demonstrate our highest selves — first to tap deep within ourselves to discover what we are called to do in our lifetime and then to manifest this calling with the enthusiasm, care, and compassion that are in us, yearning to be shared. For this shift in awareness to occur, we need to be still and listen quietly to what stirs us, as a wildlife photographer stands still and observes the beauty of nature emerging. Subtle light changes during a sunrise, the wing flaps of a dragonfly, the majestic breaching of a whale — these moments arise sometimes dramatically and other times gradually, but we are able to capture and integrate their essence after opening our hearts to the beauty and awe of life in all its forms.

The journey of discovery in The Heart of Sustainability begins with the significance of our cultural narrative and how we are currently between stories. The old story of dominating nature and turning her resources into material possessions is quickly reaching a dead end. Since the new story of living a balanced, conscious, and compassionate life in harmony with the planet’s living systems has not yet taken root, we find ourselves with only glimpses of the future.

Personal myths, such as I’m not good enough and I’m only one person with limited power, often stunt the ways we can create meaningful change. These myths emphasize that we are separate from nature rather than an integral part of it; that we are ruled by a scarcity mindset rather than one of abundance; and that fear rather than assurance has become an essential motivating force.

What is necessary for living a fulfilling life in harmony with natural systems? Our well-being is integrated with the well-being of the Earth. A focus on the environmental, economic, and social elements of sustainability is insufficient without an accompanying focus on our own characteristics: our capacity for being conscious of our activities, creative in our endeavors, compassionate toward others, and connected to ourselves and all life forms.

Our current geologic period is described as the Anthropocene — anthropo, or human, and cene, or epoch. This time in Earth’s history is marked by the tremendous ecological devastation caused by humans and our failure to recognize our interdependence with all life. What we do to the benefit or detriment of other species comes right back to affect our own well-being. Although we are playing a leading role in shaping the Anthropocene, we are not the only actors on the world’s stage and are continuously co-evolving with other life forms. Perhaps sharing the stage with more grace and humility will allow the flourishing of other species and benefit us all. As Richard Heinberg reminds us,

In the end, the deepest insight of the Anthropocene will probably be a very simple one: we live in a world of millions of interdependent species with which we have co-evolved. We sunder this web of life at our peril. Earth’s story is fascinating, rich in detail, and continually self-revealing. And it’s not all about us.¹

What is our role and how do we leave a legacy that will inspire our children and grandchildren and support their well-being and the health of the planet? As biologist Janine Benyus writes, life creates conditions conducive to life. As humans who aspire to reconnect to the web of life, we can turn to nature to help us reconnect to our hearts. We can then move toward understanding the impact of our actions in an interconnected world.

Implementing positive change in the world requires leadership, and there are a variety of leadership styles. Numerous forms of activism complement various temperaments and personalities. Understanding our own strengths and weaknesses helps us see how we may work to inspire others with our passion for reaching a common goal. What motivates us? What will get us to change course? What are the values that will guide us toward the compelling future we all long for?

To answer these questions, we need compassion, openness, understanding, regeneration, action, gratitude, and empathy. The encouraging news is that these qualities are already seeding initiatives worldwide. Now is the time for all of us to join in and help these initiatives grow.

Chapter 1

A New Story

It’s all a question of story. We are in trouble just now because we do not have a good story. We are in between stories. The Old Story — the account of how the world came to be and how we fit into it — is not functioning properly and we have not learned the New Story.

— Thomas Berry

Storytelling is how we survive, when there’s no feed, the story feeds something, it feeds the spirit, the imagination. I can’t imagine life without stories, stories from my parents, my culture. Stories from other people’s parents, their culture. That’s how we learn from each other, it’s the best way. That’s why literature is so important, it connects us heart to heart.

— Alice Walker

It has